21 Things To Do This Weekend (17-19 May)

The weekend outlook, in terms of weather, is an excellent one. Temperatures will range from a lowest high of 65 degrees on Sunday, to a high of 71 degrees today. It will be mostly sunny, partly cloudy, mostly cloudy respectively. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar  where you can find hundreds of local area events each month. The event calendar is FREE, so if you are a local business, and not taking advantage of FREE publicity, shame on you! Are you a local business and want to sponsor this high traffic, weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. Have an event to add? Check out our tutorial. For more info, you can click on each title. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

Friday, May 17th

24th annual Scrimshaw Weekend (12:00 pm -5:00 pm)
It’s that time of year for one of the city’s most popular events! The Whaling Museum’s annual Scrimshaw Weekend in its 24th year! The scrimshaw capital of the world will have a number of professional speakers, a Nautical Antiques Show, buffet lunch, a swap meet, a special dinner, some scrimshaw sleuthing, a field trip to Mystic Seaport, and tons of fantastic items to browse through. Anyone who is anyone in the scrimshaw world will be there! For detailed information click on the title.

Whaling City Clippers Poker Fundraiser (6:00 pm-11:00 pm)
Stink at poker? Of course not! You’re the best. That’s why you’ll be cleaning house at the Whaling City Clippers Poker Fundraiser taking place at Dublin’s. Bluff and bully your way to victory while helping out the team! Registration is at 6:00 pm and cards are dealt at 7:00 pm.

4th Annual Spaghetti Supper Dance (Acushnet, MA) (6:30 pm-11:30 pm)
This evening is the 4th Annual Spaghetti Supper Dance to benefit the Relay for Life –Cancer Society. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, fruit punch, coffee and dessert. There will be a large Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle. The DJ this year will be Howie and Linda Plaud, former owners of The Highlander. Come help support a great cause and win some great prizes. Tickets are only $15.00 each for an entire evening of fun.

Book Signing Last of the Fairhaven Coasters (Fairhaven) (7:00 pm-9:00 pm)
Love to read? Perhaps a writer? Love to sail? Join authors Donald Tucker and Robert Demanche as they host an event to launch the publication of their book on coastal schooners. Each event begins with a 20-minute talk featuring stories and vintage photographs followed by a book signing. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at $19.99 each. For further information, call Donald Tucker at 508-993-9667.

Pro Wrestling: – “The Road To The Anniversary” (6:00 pm-9:00 pm)
It’s real to me dammit. Top Rope Promotions – The leader in New England Independent Pro Wrestling for 31 years presents “The Road To The Anniversary” event at the South Coast Soccer Center/Portugal Verde Soccer Academy (formerly Hot Wheels) on Nash Road. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Meet & Greet 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Bell time scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Feature bouts will be a heavyweight championship, a “falls count ANYWHERE grudge match”, tag team bout, interstate championship, and a special challenge. Come root for your guy and maybe smash a folding chair on someone’s head. Or maybe get one smashed on yours. Special Appearances by WWE Hall Of Famer “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas and former ECW Heavyweight Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas and TNA Gut Check Contestant Elia Markropoulos, Alexis Navaeah, Craig Costa & more. Proceeds to benefit the Portugal Verde Soccer Academy Fund.

Film Screening: In Altro Mare (7:00 pm-8:00 pm)
The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues on Friday, May 17 with In Altro Mare. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the Working Waterfront Festival. Films about the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7:00 PM in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. All programs are open to the public and presented free of charge.

Saturday, May 18th

Operation Clean Sweep (FREEBIES for Volunteers!) (8:30 am -12:30 pm)
Volunteers Needed for May 18th! Lots of goodies to reward our civic minded volunteers! Co-Hosted by Southcoast Hospitals Group and NEED (Neighbors for Enlightened Development) and in partnership with the Friends of Buttonwood Park. Show up on day of cleanup to check in/sign up. Walk ups are always welcome. FREE Southcoast Hospital Award Winning Clam Chowder Coupon for all volunteers, FREE Buttonwood Park Zoo Passes for all volunteers 12 and under upon completion of the cleanup, FREE T-shirts for all volunteers, FREE Pizza by Domino’s Pizza, and FREE drawing for a rodent proof trash barrel (donated by BRW Property Services). Gloves and tools provided!

Fairhaven/Mattapoisett Bike Ride (9:00 am -10:00 pm)
Bay State Bike Week is May 11-19. Please join the South Coast Bikeway Committee, MassBike, MassRides, MassDOT and bike enthusiasts in the SouthCoast in celebrating by attending events including the Bike Safety Rodeo in New Bedford, the Fairhaven/Mattapoisett Ride or by liking us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/southcoastbikeway).

Celebrate National Bike week by taking part in either of two bike rides through the beautiful, historical streets of Fairhaven and Mattapoisett, sponsored by the Fairhaven Bikeway Committee. The Family ride is 5 to 8 miles on the Phoenix Bike Trail and low-traffic Fairhaven streets. The Advanced Ride is 20 to 24 miles on the roads of Fairhaven and Mattapoisett. Participants must wear bicycle helmets. A tour of Fort Phoenix by a militia man and entertainment by Pumpkin Head Ted will also be featured. FREE T-shirts to the first 75 riders registered!

Don’t Fear the Swamp! How to Have Fun in Wetlands (Mattapoisett) 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Wetlands — are they water, or are they land? In this hands-on exploration, we will discover what makes a wetland and why these habitats are important. The Mattapoisett River Reserve has a tremendous diversity of wetlands. We will get down and dirty exploring the life that lives in wetlands and how we can protect them. Cost: Buzzards Bay Coalition members: Free / General public: $10. Reservations are required. To RSVP, contact Rob Hancock at hancock@savebuzzardsbay.org or (508) 999-6363 x222.

3rd Annual Volunteer Cleanup Day & All-American Cookout 9:30 pm – 12:30 pm
On Saturday, May 18, from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will host a Volunteer Cleanup Day & All-American Cookout, a volunteer-driven initiative designed to provide our national park with the people-power to ready the park for the upcoming summer season and engage communities in the National Park experience. Following the morning’s projects will be a complimentary cookout in the National Park Visitor Center Garden for those volunteering, sponsored by the Whaling History Alliance. The event kicks off with volunteer check-in and registration at 9:30 AM at the park visitor center at 33 William Street, downtown New Bedford.

7th Annual Aviation Fun Day 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Enjoy a day of flight demonstrations, airplane rides, the Buttonwood Park Zoo Choo, NBPD K-9 demonstrations, NBFD Crash Truck demonstrations, antique and classic cars, flight simulators, and so much more during the 7th Annual General Aviation Fun Day at the New Bedford Regional Airport.

Dinner in honor of all WWII Veterans 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
Dinner on this Armed Forces Day in honor of all WWII veterans at the Andrews-Dahill VFW Post, 477 Park St. Tickets $10, please RSVP. 508-994-2822.

Slocum’s River Project Closing Event (Dartmouth, MA) 4:00 pm-9:00 pm
The beautiful Slocum’s River Reserve in Dartmouth is the inspiration and the setting for six large-scale site-specific sculptures that will be on display from June 16, 2012 through May 18, 2013. Mark your calendars for the Closing Celebration, Saturday, May 18, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It will feature a guided walk, entertainment, music and a bonfire. Bring your own picnic and enjoy the festivities! For more information visit slocumsriverproject.com

Celtic By Candlelight w/ Butch McCarthy 8:00 pm-10:00 pm
Head to one of the hottest live music destinations in New Bedford: The Celtic Coffee house and join them for a candlelit evening of music, food and drinks from our new pub menu. Guests will enjoy the music of popular local musician, Butch McCarthy.

Sunday, May 19th

Acoustic Sunrise – Morning Glory Cafe 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
In what is perhaps the most unique breakfast next to Leggs ‘n Eggs, you can enjoy breakfast and live music every Sunday at Morning Glory Café, in the South End. Amanda Rae will serenade you from 9:30-12:30 while you enjoy the best breakfast in town!

South Coast Toy and Comic Show (Fairhaven) 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
This is an increasingly popular event that showcases not only comic books and gaming paraphenelia, but celebrity guests, Q&A panels, a costume contest, artists, tons of toys, collectibles and more, It’s fun for the WHOLE family.

The Future of Health and 14th Annual Pet Fest Walk for Animals 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
We have two events going on together! The Future of Health with yoga, tai chi, crossfit, boot camp, massages, food tastings, nutritional info, gift bags and the 14th Annual Pet Fest Walk for Animals! Side by Side…Lots to see and do! Doggie fashion show, Canine Cop Demonstration raising money for abused and neglected animals. For more info www.coalitionforanimals.org

Canine Fashion Show & Pet Fest 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Looking for the latest in doggy wear? Need something snazzy for your schnauzer? Put some frocks on your dachshunds and join the fun! Doggie fashionistas can watch the Doggie Fashion Show at the Pet Fest in Buttonwood Park on Sunday, May 19th sponsored by New Bedford Guide’s dailydogblog and Go Fetch!, a grooming and dog specialty shop at 982 Kempton Street, New Bedford. Just look for the red carpet and the crowds of fans. For more info: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/pet-fest-new-bedford/2013/05/14

Taste of Southcoast 12:00 am – 5:00 pm
The weather is slowly and reluctantly warming up as summer approaches, which means that New Bedford’s festival season is nearly upon us. For food lovers, no New Bedford festival is more exciting than the annual Taste of South Coast. Over twenty of the South Coast’s best restaurants and eateries will be gathering on Pier 3 of New Bedford’s historic waterfront to compete for the People’s Choice awards. Sunday, May 19th will mark the 7th annual Taste of South Coast and yet again it promises to be one of the best deals of the year thanks to the incredible quantity and quality of food, as well as the fun that is bound to be had. For more: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/community/threads/may-19-2013-riverside-cemetery-tour-fairhaven-ma.2075/

Riverside Cemetery Tour (Fairhaven ) 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Created in 1850 by Warren Delano II, the grandfather of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, this is one of the most beautiful rural-style cemeteries in Massachusetts. The tour visits the final resting places of some of the town’s most prominent people. You’ll also see lovely examples of early tombstone art as you walk along the beautifully landscaped paths. Tour includes walking on uneven ground. Wear comfortable shoes. Guide: Christopher Richard. Sponsored by the Office of Tourism. Free. For more information, call 508-979-4085 or email FairhavenTours@aol.com.

A Forever Paws Messages from Heaven Event (Fall River) 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
This lively uplifting event takes the audience on a spiritual odyssey and reconnects those in the audience with their loved ones from heaven. Matt Fraser is truly gifted in bringing through validation with names, dates and places from loved ones in heaven to show those in the audience that their loved ones are safe and at peace and forever with them. When you attend Matt’s Live Show his natural sense of humor and compassionate messages entertains and provides comfort to all who meet him. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Forever Paws Animal Shelter . “Funds are needed to secure the safe keeping of our adoptable animals. A new fence will be installed to protect the animals from any mishaps due to the increase in upcoming construction by families surrounding us”

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